Refrigerant



Patented Apr. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES. PATENT "oFFicE z CHRISTIAN DANTSIZEN, orscHEnnc'rADY, NEW You, ASSIGNOR ro GENERAI. mncrmc COMPANY, A CORPORATION or NEW YORK REFRIGERANT No Drawing.

This invention relates to refrigerants. More specifically it is concerned with a new and improved refrigerant consisting of methyl formate with which is associated a relatively small proportiqniof a low boiling alcohol, such as methyl or ethyl alcohol.

Methyl formate has been found to be an excellent refrigerant for certain types of re-. frigerating machines, such as the compressor type. Where methyl formate is employed as the refrigerant, the system generally speaking, may be similar tothatshown in the patent to Steenstrup, 1,736,635, dated N ovember 19, 1929, and may be provided with a gastight casing enclosing the. refrigerating unit and forming part of a closed system. In such a closed system moisture is apt to be entrapped in the Walls of the casing and the windings of the driving motor, regardless of the precautions takento remove all traces of moisture from these parts.

In the presence of moisture methyl formate tends to dissociate into formic acid and methyl alcohol according to the equation While the degree of dissociation will vary with conditions such as for example the amount of moisture present, and may not be material ordinarily, yet, in some cases, if an appreciable degree of dissociation occurs and hence an appreciable amount of formic acid is formed, the metal parts with which the refrigerant comes in contact will Application filed September 19, 1930. Serial No. 483,137.

acid which attacks the metal parts of the .unit.

w The presence of the alcohol prevents the dissociation of the methyl formate which would tend to take place in the presence of even the small amount of moisture which is likely to be present no matter howcarefully theap paratus has previousl been treated to remove the moisture. 111 ad ition, the alcohol exerts no harmful effect on the refrigerating characteristics of the methyl formate, but in fact is a desirable addition because the low boiling alcoholshave properties which in themselves make the alcohols suitable for refrigerants.

In carrying my invention into practice I prefer to add a relatively small pro ortion of alcohol to the methyl formate. I 1'eferably, I employ the alcohol in the anhydrous condition. IVhile the amount of alcohol which I add to the methyl formate may vary, I prefer to use at least 5% by weight. This amount materially improves the stability of the methyl formate Whilenot appreciably affecting its refrigerating characteristics. I may employ any percentage between about 5% to 10% by weight of the alcohol, but I prefer not to use over 10% of the alcohol because such an amount will tend to reduce the vapor pressure of the methyl formate' below that desired in the operation'of the appara tus.

The refrigerant of my invention may be employed in a system of refrigeration, such for example as that shown in the Steenstrup patent above referred to, passing through the cycle of first being compressed by the compressor, then to a condenser, from there to an expansion chamber or evaporator, and finally returning to the compressor to complete the cycle. 1 v

l/Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A refrigerant consisting of methyl formate and'about 5% to 10% by weight of anhydrous low boiling alcohol associated therewith.

2. A refrigerant consisting of methyl formate and about to by weight of anhlydrous methyl alcohol associated therewit 5 3. A refrigerant consisting of methyl ,formate and about 5% to 10% by weight of anhlydrous ethyl alcohol associated' therewit a L 4. A refrigerant, capable of bein alter- 1 nately compressed and liquefied and t en expandedand asified, consistin of methyl formate and a out 5% of anhy rousmethyl alcohol associated therewith.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of Se tember, 1930.

OHRISTIA DANTSIZEN. 

